Centrifugal separator.



0, WESTON. CENTBIFUGAL SEPA RATOR. APPLI CATIQN FILED MAY 2, I913.

Patgnted Mar. 21,

n STATES i anion.

DAVID B. WESTON, OF SHARON, MASSACHUSETTS.

CENFRIFUGAL SEPARATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

' Application filed May 2, 1913. Serial No. 765,089.

tors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to centrifugal separators and 1s 1n the nature of an lmprovement and modification of the construction shown in a co-pending application hereto fore filed by me, bearing Serial No. 731,232, filed November 14:, 1912;

In separating some materials like raw cane juice which contain in suspension more or less dirt or sediment, which is heavier than the clear juice, and also certain lighter particles in a more or less semi-solid form containing valuable by-products, it is hi qhly advantageous to be able to separate all three constituents simultaneously.

It is the object of this invention to provide an eificient and simple means by which these three ingredients may be simultaneously separated through the agency of a centrifugal machine.

To this end the invention comprises in combination a centrifugal basket provided with radial partitions or diaphragms adjacent to its outer wall, a baiile plate so disposed as to form a collector or holding means for retaining the lighter than juice particles or constituents, while allowing the clear juice separated from the sediment to escape from one portion of the basket. means being provided for automatically conducting ofi' to a separate receptacle or compartment said lighter particles. The sediment or heavy residuum may be discharged through the bottom valved opening in the basket. These and other features of'the invention will be particularly explained in this specification, and will be defined in the claims forming part thereof. I

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated the preferred construction and arrangement for embodying the principles of this invention. in which Figure 1 is a central vertical section showing a centrifugal machine constructed according to this invention; Fig. 2 is a detail plan view of the valve controlling the radial ofi'take; and Fig. 3 is a detail fragmentary view in sectional elevation showing a modified arrangement of ofitake.

reach the outer edge of the battle In the practice of the invention as herein shown, the solid wall basket 0 is suspended in the usual manner at the lower end of a gyrator'y rotary shaft 6, by which the basket is rotated at the desired speed. The basket is provided with the usual central outlet opening in its bottom, which is normally closed by means of a valve or circular plate o.. In this case I prefer to leave a very slight drainage space between the edges of the valve 0 and the underlying part of the bottom of the basket by providing a series of thin blocks 0 to very-slightly raise the gate or valve from its seat.

The peripheral part of the basket is closed v or covered by the annular top member 0 and a series of radial diaphragms subdivide the space included between the top 0 and the bottom, so as to quickly impart a rotary motion to the liquid when the basket starts rotating. These diaphragms may be perforated so that in case one of the pockets between them become clogged, the pressure may be relieved by allowing the material to escape into the adjoining baskets.

In the upper part of the basket is placed an annular baffle plate or ring 7'' located so as to extend on both sides beyond the vertical or axial projection of the edge of the large central opening bounded by the top 0 A deflector plate or hood 0 is mounted on the top of the basket extending slightly above and inside of the inner edge of the top 0 so as to leave an annular offtake space for the escape of liquid over the top of the basket. The liquid is drawn outwardly by centrifugal force after flowing over the inner top edge of the basket into the trough a, from which 'it may be drawn oif by the outlet pipe a .It will be noticed that the juice constituent floating on the inside wall of liquid will be collected or held back by means of the baffle plate 7, as soon as the wall of liquid builds inward far enough to plate.

To recover and conduct away this separated lighter constituent I provide a series of radial pipes extending from the space directly below the baffle plate 7 to and through the peripheral wall of the basket,

I as shown at m; These radial ofltake pipes or tubes m have their inner ends turned in the direction of the rotation of the basket and are open at both ends. They, of course, rotate with the basket. The inner ends or ports are closed by a suitable valve m j ointed at m to a valve lever m which projects inwardly so as to be reached by the operator.

The liquid to be separated is introduced by means of a supply pipe 9 which is jointed at g and g to allow its ready insertion into and removal from the basket. The lower end of the pipe preferably projects down inside of a frusto-conical deflector (Z supported by vertical connections with the valve plate 0. The deflector is provided with a handle (1 for conveniently raising it. The liquid flowing outward under the centrifugal force passes beneath an annular, horizontal baflie or guide plate 0 which causes the liquid to flow toward the outside of the basket before it passes upward, and thus prevents the formation of objectionable eddies and counter-currents which would tend to mingle. in an objectionable manner,

the incoming liquid or juice with that already partially separated.

In Fig. 3, I have shown the radial outlet pipes 0 so arranged as to dispense with the use of valves, this being accomplished by carrying the inner open ends of the radial pipes'bevond the vertical or axial projection of the inside edge of the top 0 so that the liquid will begin to escape through the annular overflow between the hood 0 and the top 0 before the inner wall of the liquid extends far enough inwardly to overflow into the open endof the oiftake pipe p. At the same time this end of the pipe p should not extend as far inwardly as does the battle plate f. As soon as there is a substantial accumulation of-the lighter material on the inner wall of the liquid it will begin to overflow into the ofltake pipe and flow outward into the surrounding curb a without, however, allowing the clear juice to flow with it.

When the valves are used the valves remain normally closed until there is an accumulation of the lighter material on the inside wall of liquid, and then they are opened by the operator at suitable intervals.

What I claim is:

1. In a-centrifugal separator the combination of a rotary basket provided with an annular top member projecting inwardly from the wall of the basket to cover the peripheral portion thereof, radial partitions dividing the peripheral portion of the basket into pockets, a baffle plate located in the upper part of the basket and extending inwardly and outwardly beyond the vertical projection of the inner edge of the top member and radial outlet pipes extending from the space beneath said baflie plate -to the outer wall of the basket and forming means for drawing ofl", by centrifugal action, the

lighter separated constituents of the liquid, substantially as described.

2a In a centrifugal separator the combination with the centrifugal basket of a series of radial diaphragms extending radially inward, a predetermined distance from the outer wall and subdividing the outer portion of the basket into pockets, an annular top member forming a cover over the top of said pockets, an annular baffle plate located in the upper part of said basket and extending both outwardly and inwardly beyond the vertical projection of the inner edge of said top member, radial offtake pipes whose inner ends extend to a position beneath said baffle plateand whose outer ends deliver through the peripheral wall of the basket and means for introducing. the liquid to be separated into the bottom portion of the basket, substantially as described.

3. A centrifugal separator embracing in its construction a centrifugal basket, a top member extending inwardly to cover the outer portion inside the peripheral wall, an inwardly and downwardly projecting hood or scoop to deflect the escaping liquid around and over the inside edge of said top member, an annular baflie plate extended across the vertical projection of the outer edge of the overflow outlet between the hood and the top member and arranged to leave an annular space between itself and the outer wall, a series of radial offtake pipes located to receive the lighter material accumulated on the inside wall of the liquid and conduct said material by centrifugal action through the outer wall of said basket, substantially as described.

4. A centrifugal separator embracing in its construction a centrifugal basket provided with an annular overflow outlet at its top intermediate of the center and the circumference of the basket, an annular baflie plate arranged in the upper part of the basket across the vertical projection of said outlet, an annular guide plate located in the lower part of the basket, means for conveying theliquid to be separated to the space beneath said guide plate, and a series of offtake pipes extending from points outside of the inner edge of said bafile plate to and through the side wall of the basket, substantially as described;

5. In a centrifugal separator the combination of the basket, a series of radial partithrough the sides of the basket in order to discharge the light material collecting on the inner surface of the liquid, substantially as described;

6. A centrifugal separator embracing in its construction a centrifugal basket provided with a top member arranged to cover the outer portion of the space within the basket and positioned to allow the outflow of liquid around its inner edge, a valve-discharge outlet for the discharge of the heavy solid matter in the bottom of the basket and a series of discharge pipes extending radially from a position beyond the vertical plane of the liquid discharged to and through the outer wall of the basket, substantially as described.

7. In a centrifugal machine the combination of a centrifugal basket provided with a central discharge orifice in its bottom, a valve arranged to normally close said bottom outlet against the escape of solid matter while leaving drainage spaces for the draining out of liquid, a liquid discharge outlet formed at the top of the basket and inter mediate discharge members whose inner ends extend inside the surface of the liquid when the machine is in operation and whose outer ends extend to and through the wall of the basket, substantially as described.

In witness whereof, I have subscribed the above specification.

DAVID B. IVESTON. In the presence of- ADA M. WESTON,

lVM. IV. CLARK. 

